Visiting Occupy Houston

I finally made the trek into downtown Houston to visit the Occupy Houston protest/encampment/squattervile on Saturday. My first and lasting impression: is this it? I have to hand it to the organizers, they sure are getting a lot of media attention for such a small gathering of protesters and homeless people.

First off, the size. Seriously, it is a very, very small area of Tranquility Park. Here is a Google Earth shot where I’ve outlined the camp in yellow:

Even on that illustration, it looks bigger than it really is. I entered the park from the corner of Smith and Rusk and thought that I was in the wrong place. Only when I was more than halfway through the park did I start to see any evidence at all of an “occupation”. Even then, you have to walk up on it to realy notice it.

Overall, I’d guess that it was about as clean of an “occupation” as you could expect. There were some flies and such buzzing around but there wasn’t an overwhelming smell. I saw very few people, apparently they were having an organizing meeting a block over at the library. Most of the people I saw were the habitually homeless and mentally ill. There was a first aid station, a recycling center, a couple of compost bins, a food area (complete with refrigerator and microwave), a “library”, and an area to make signs.

All in all, a big disappointment. I expected to find people protesting but perhaps I misunderstand the purpose of “occupying” – perhaps that is the protest, creating a shantytown in the middle of a world class city. I did notice that they were using taxpayer funded electricity, which seemed odd. I was hoping to understand why the political right is against the occupation but frankly, there wasn’t much to be outraged about. Access to the park wasn’t restricted and it wasn’t filthy like I thought it would be from other reports. I did talk to four policemen assigned to the easiest overtime in history and asked them if this was all there was and they laughed and said yes.

It is still a pretty park and a nice place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. If this is the price we pay for freedom, so be it.

Many of us have jobs and participate in the Occupation after work. Others of us are looking for work but one can only spend just so many hours a day filing out job applications. If your company is hiring, please come on down to GA at 7pm with info and applications.

The movement is pretty small in Houston. Houston (and Texas in general), is VERY conservative and thus the number of people are going to be relatively small. Also, Houston really isn’t a big university town.

I was in Washington DC recently and there were thousands there. I walked by a rally on the mall and it probably had close to ten thousand (filled the area around the Washington Monument).

Thank you for reporting on the protest here though. Whether you support their message or not, supporting peaceful protest (especially during such tramtic time in this country), is a good thing.

so Occupy IS made up primarily of liberal, college students? I guess that doesn’t jive well with the “99% meme they spew like the “non partisan, non violent” line. If you have to make excuse for 15 people (my son’s Boy scout campouts are much bigger) in a city of almost 4 million, what again does that say about your supposed representation of the 99%?

Don’t forget Houston Baptist University and St. Thomas. Houston IS a big university town. It’s just a much bigger city than most university towns. We also seem to have a lot more people here willing to flip burgers, make sandwiches and sling smoothies (or whatever it takes to make a paycheck) with a college degree than elsewhere.

Don’t you think there’s more than a bit of symbolism and irony here regarding the 1%, the trash, the “Gypsy”esque nature of the protesters, etc? Goldman Sachs trashes the US and leaves us with a disgusting mess, and the fascists want to reward them for this?

In the Bible it’s called the “Whore of Babylon.” What of the capitalist gypsies that ruined Detroit, don’t you think Detroit looks pretty trashed out after they took their billions elsewhere to the services of a better whore than America?

Big Silly Willy, Detroit was trashed by very corrupt government and punitive taxes to businesses. You may not know or understand the free market, but you should understand freedom. Even businesses have the freedom to go to another state and even country if they so desire.

After 18 years in business, and an AA a BA and a MBA, along with my Enrollment, not yet including my CPA, I think I’m a little more qualified than some random yahoo to have an authoritative opinion on business.

I routinely interact with the city, the county, the state, and the federal governments. Governments are generally neutral, and have no vested interest in destroying the economic engines of their respective communities.

I suppose I have a more WASP/patrician concept of how things should be, so while business may have the “right” to pack up their stuff and find a new community to rape, I don’t believe that they should always do so.

Besides you’re a communist supporter. You believe that production should instead be moved to China, Mexico, or some other less developed nation with a weak regulatory system.

I’ve yet to read anything that you’ve published that would lead me to believe you know Adam Smith from…Adam.

First, if everyone was gone, holding a rally or public meeting, (as the article suggests) then naturally the place would be deserted.

Second, we are working hard to feed and care for the homeless, and guide them into some type of public assistance programs where they can recieve competent care. This is an incredibly under-reported aspect of Occupy Houston, and a valuable service to the community. This article doesn’t even seem to notice.

As the writer tries to assume a condescending, “aw ain’t you a cute bunch of protesters,” attitude, he wonders how Occupy Houston has been getting so much attention. Well, the short answer is that the Occupy Houston base-camp is not just a glorified gypsy camp. It is a deadly serious and effective mobilization and recruitment tool.

Occupy Houston has mailing lists with over 25,000 contacts – and 15,000 Facebook “likes.” we recieve hundreds of pounds of donated food, warm winter clothes, free legal support, and lots of other assistance from the “off-camp” Occupiers. (That used to be my microwave, by the way. I gave it to them.)

So that’s not “all there is.” That base camp at Tranquility is just the symbol for the true Occupation movement in Houston – which is very large, very strong, and growing more sophisticated and stronger every single day.

Methinks that you are reading stuff that I didn’t write. I wasn’t being condescending at all. It is an extremely small “occupation” and I would say that even if every tree had two or three people under it. Not condescending, just fact.

Now, if all of the people that claim to participate actually did participate, it might be larger than that little space at the end of the park.

And so we get to the crux of the matter. Political participation in this country is miniscule, compared to what it should be. No one votes because they know they’re electing officials who are bought and paid for by corporate greed.

Some people come to Tranquility who would not normally participate in politics and discuss real issues; but the numbers are not what they should be; I suspect that the same apathy and complacency keeps them at home in front of the TV rather than discussing issues with other people, and working on solutions.

Know that many people who work support this movement and you would do well to come to the park about 6 pm to speak to some, and stay for the General Assembly at 7 pm. And do get up in front of the GA and speak about your beliefs.

Well, yes, there were hardly any Occupiers there because we were all over at the library in a strategy meeting. If you visited Congress when everyone was in committee meetings, it too would look kind of deserted. The camp is intended as a base of operations and a 24/7 presence. The vast majority of the Occupiers don’t live in camp, we come in for General Assembly or when there are some Actions planned. We live in regular houses or apartments and work at regular jobs. Some spend some time during the day working at camp and some spend a night or two a week sleeping there. Now, if you have a better idea, please come to GA at 7pm any night and present it. You will be heard and there is a chance your motion may be adopted.

@David Jennings – the point is to participate at whatever level you can. Harris County reports 685,000 people living in poverty. The 50 or so who are able to be there 24/7 are representing 13,000 of their peers.

I see no problem at all – Like other cities around the country, this protest has it’s fair share of homeless who come to be fed, but there have been no injuries to police or to the protestors. Other cities wish they had the kind of communication this camp enjoys with the police, even if they do arres them from time to time. Also, the use of the electricity should not be looked at as odd. The occupiers are taxpaying residents too, and have the same right as anyone to use every facility of the park. On the three occasions I visited the park, the refrigerator was not plugged in, because there isn’t enough current to run it from the single circuit they are allowed.

I encourage my fellow Houstonians to find out first-hand what they want to know about this movement. Don’t rely on a single account that was formed when the protestors weren’t even present. The evenings are the best time to have interaction.

I happen to be white, over 50, college educated and employed full time, but I still feel this protest has something to offer me. I attend when I can. The way I see it, I will never have a better chance to be the change I want to see.

TC, you seem to be a pretty intelligent and level headed person. I ask – what exactly do the Occupy People want? ie. when you meet for your general assemblies and make signs, what are you asking for? I honestly want to know. From the media I understand that your group represents the “99%” – which I guess I’m part of, but I don’t think your group has done an effective job of getting a concise and cohesive message out, so I don’t feel confortable endorsing the movement. Those of us (in reality I’d say the 95%) who are just going to work every day have the impression that it is a motley, misguided group of malcontents. One of the “demands” I’ve read is that many want their student loans to be paid off, or excused. I paid my loans off, is it fair that those with outstanding loans should have theirs paid, or should I retroactively protest to get my money back? I borrowed student loans from the bank. Who exactly should pay me back? The depositors? That is the only concrete thing I’ve heard that I can put my finger on. The rest just seems to be a mixed up grab bag of complaints, “Life’s not fair, make it so.” Anyway, if you could clear up my confusion as to the goal of your group, I would greatly appreciate it.

Many thanks for the kind words and rational statement. To answer your question (“what exactly do the Occupy People want?”), the very best way to explain it is for me to take you to a GA meeting so that you can hear for yourself. I have made this offer to several of my friends, but as yet, none have taken me up on it. They just don’t have time, and I understand that. I live out by Hwy 6 and often can’t get away even though I know it’s in my own best interests to make time. I guess some parties count on that.

You must understand that I speak here with great hesitation, as the group’s members tend not to speak for one another and there is no official manifesto that is short enough to make sense. But what I have been able to glean is this:

All of the individual gripes and demands seem to lead back to the same common thread – The corporatization of our democracy by its own Supreme Court. The January 2010 decision (5-4 of course) against the group Citizens United, empowered the Federal Election Commission to grant corporations the right to donate unlimited amounts of money to political campaigns and action groups, while individual contributions from you and me remain capped. This means that corporations now enjoy ‘personhood’ without the obligations and consequences that come with it.

Our elected officials no longer answer in a meaningful way to ‘we the people’, since it is a fact that the one with the most money almost always wins the election. Our politicians used to depend upon *us* for that, but no longer. They don’t need one dime of my post tax dollar to get elected, and they no longer have to explain what they stand for to get it. It is perfectly understood by the corporate donor..

So if it’s now possible for our elected officials to receive ALL of their campaign funds from anonymous corporate sources – what chance do we have of influencing the policies that affect us? What will the regulatory world look like, absent the consequence of ousting? If you happen to work for one of these donor-companies, and they donate to a candidate you disagree with, do you have to bite your lip, or will you complain vehemently at the shareholder’s meeting?

As of January 21, 2010 our political system was sold to the companies we work for. Sold to any company that has the money to fund a multi-million dollar campaign.

Your next question:

“When you meet for your general assemblies and make signs, what are you asking for? – …but I don’t think your group has done an effective job of getting a concise and cohesive message out…”

Right you are!! The very nature of the 99% movement is not conducive to a single message. It seems to evolve a different way in every city, but whether the folks are asking for social justice or bank regulation or judicial/election reform, everything ties back to the idea that individuals no longer have the power to bend the ears of our elected officials. We look to the law for relief to all of these complaints, but the law no longer serves the people. It is actually WRITTEN by their donors. That’s right – the 1st draft of any regulatory legislation is penned by the lobbyists from that industry. How do you think a 10,000 page bill gets typed in 24 hours? It ain’t done by the kid who answers your senators phone.

Your last question:

“One of the “demands” I’ve read is that many want their student loans to be paid off, or excused….”

I agree with you that the banks did not hold a gun to some kids’ heads and said, “hey kid – spend this or die”. But it is a relatively small portion of the group that is asking for that specific relief. I don’t have to agree with every single position in the group in order to support its overall goals. I have to pick my battles.

The job of this organization is much harder than what we fought for in the 60s. Back then, there was one clear goal – to end the VietNam war. It took 5 years of protesting and marches, but it was finally done. As a new participant in this experiment, I know my road will be much longer.

Mr. Jennings: As someone who works, has held conservative stances in my younger days (until it became impossible for me to continue as a hypocrite–note, I no longer believe in left-right — I only believe in Human), believes in capitalism that cares, I am glad you took a gander at Tranquility. I think you should come down to General Assembly at 7 pm a few more times before you pass judgment, so you can see what really goes on. And while you’re there, please get up during the opinion section and explain to the people there why greed is good.

I am very proud of the people who stay there. Many of the people that can stay there are there because they have been beat down, oppressed for so long that hope is fleeting. Sure, there are many there who are homeless and are there to be fed, but they highlight a major problem with our system. People like yourself want to sweep them aside or institutionalize them, but you don’t want to pay for it. You just want them to get a job, because from your perspective and your upbringing, that’s what your Daddy taught you. You ignore the fact that some people did not have that advantage, and you say that’s their problem.

Occupy says NO, that’s everyone’s problem. I will never understand how people who claim to be so superior, like yourself and this Kabazz person, are not giving your time to help people, to enlighten people. It’s real eaxy to judge someone; it’s not as easy to lift them up. Occupy wants to lift people up. But the only way we as a people can do this is by getting the people at the top to look down and say, I have enough really.

Know that there are many, many people who support Occupy who are not on site. I side with them. I have attended GA’s for over a month, been on a few marches, attended the meeting at the library when you were taking your photos, and went down to the park and helped out recently. I say more people need to get behind this movement to correct the wrongs that the few people at the top who apparently have no conscience (or who have the ability to ignore their conscience) have wrought on the many.

“If you are not “Occupying,” and are sleeping in your own bed at night, what is the point?”

A lot of the base-camp occupiers rotate nights, but they manage to maintain a 24- hour vigil.

Off-camp support is absolutely critical for this effort – witness the outpouring of donations, which make the exercise possible at all. This support cannot be minimized – it’s importance is absolute. One off-camp supporter, for example, maintains a “warehouse” for the safe storage of the base-camp Occupiers belongings.

“What’s the point, then?” Come on, think: Both base-camp and off-camp support is needed, and both are available.

“But the numbers are so small..”

Again. We can turn out hundreds of protesters with little notice, and it’s no big deal to have a GA attended by 40-50 people – almost every night! The TEA Party would have been lucky to turn out that many people with monthly meetings.

Eric, you know nothing about Tea Parties. Every week, people turn out in the Houston area alone by the hundreds. If they wanted to, organizers could once again fill a plaza with 15,000 people. They have chosen to focus on making a difference by voting and supporting candidates, as can be seen by the 2010 elections. And will be seen in 2012.

I still have no idea what the purpose of Occupy Houston is. I somewhat get the Occupy Wall Street group, at least they seem to be committed to something.

Seriously, you think it’s fair to get an impression of our presence during a strategy meeting where we are all across the street? That hardly sounds fair or professional. Show up on a Friday night and get back to us.

And once again, we see that this is not a “protest”. I shouldn’t have to ask what the best time would be to come down to your protest and find out what it is about. A protest takes commitment, not sleeping in one’s own bed at night pretending to occupy something.

I would like you folks in jail for the following reasons, and one of these days I think I am going to get my wish:

Sec. 32-28. – Camping: It shall be unlawful for any person to establish a campsite upon or use any area of the parks as a campsite. This section shall not apply to persons camping in areas designated for overnight camp ing pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated in accordance with section 32-5 of this Code.

Sec. 32-32. – Erecting structures, bill posting, etc.: It shall be unlawful for any person to place, erect, or attach any structure, sign, bulletin board, post, pole or advertising device of any kind whatever in the parks, or to attach any notice, bill, poster, sign, wire, rod or cord to any tree, shrub, fence, railing, post or structure in the parks unless authorized by rule or regulation promulgated pursuant to section 32-5 of this Code.

Note: The author or authors are responsible for this blog, which is not edited by the Chronicle.